Electronic Gadgets

Apple's mobile assistant is the source of much comedy -- and frustration -- among users. How did Siri come to be, and how useful is it, really?

By Bernadette Johnson

TVs seem to be getting thinner and thinner and their pictures clearer and clearer. But now they're see-through, too? How's that possible?

By Patrick J. Kiger

If you've ever lamented how overstuffed your wallet is or how it's putting a crick in your back, fear not: its digital doppelganger is here to save the day. Well, maybe. We weigh the pros and cons of e-wallets in this article.

By Nathan Chandler

Remember the bygone days when you were forced to watch television in real-time as it aired? Streaming boxes and other tech renders that a distant memory, and now, Roku is shrinking the game.

By Bernadette Johnson

Have you ever imagined yourself walking around your town like a sci-fi hero, with a heads-up display showing you details of the world around you? Google Glass aims to make that possible for all of us.

By Jonathan Strickland

Sure, we're all obsessed with our phones, but does everyone think that strapping a timepiece to the wrist is redundant?

By Nicholas Gerbis

Although we love our mobile gadgetry, all those charging cords are annoying to keep up with and carry around. Does it ever make you wonder, how do wireless chargers work? Find out how wireless chargers ditch the cables and power up your gear!

By Jonathan Strickland

You may have heard about quartz and liquid crystal in reference to wristwatches, but do you know how the two materials make the time tick by?

By Jeff Harder

Thanks to nanotechnology, you may no longer need to live in fear of dropping your smartphone in the toilet or sink. Is dependable waterproofing for smartphones and tablets really happening?

By Wesley Fenlon

You can use an iPhone to tune your guitar, learn chords, and even record new songs. But can you really replace your amplifier and effects pedals with the same device you used to book a show?

Mystery clocks represent that enigmatic intersection between horology and magic. What makes their floating hands move and keep time so well?

By Linda C. Brinson

The sales guy says you need premium audio cables if you want premium sound. Is he telling you the truth, or is he just trying to make a buck?

By Patrick J. Kiger

Audiophiles are pretty divided in the debate of headphones vs earbuds. So, which type offers the best sound quality? Honestly, they may want to settle for a pair of each. Read on to find out why!

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Can you think of an instrument more influential in modern music than the electric guitar? How about the synthesizer? From analog to digital, synthesizers have changed the landscape of sound as we know it.

By Jeff Harder

Nope, it's not a tramp stamp that lights up, but this slim, circuitry-filled sticker could save your life someday. And that's pretty cool, isn't it?

By Robert Lamb

As companies dream up better audio and video standards and storage media, they also add new ways to send it crisply from your gear to your ear, and optical audio is one of them.

By Nicholas Gerbis

If you've ever wanted to eliminate some of those pesky audio cables, wireless speakers may sound like a great idea. They have some advantages, but wireless speakers still come with some strings attached.

By Jonathan Strickland

If all you do is swim in the pool and play the occasional game of Marco Polo, you are missing out. An underwater sound system could get you doing the electric boogaloo on land and in water. How cool is that?

By Robert Lamb

You don't need to pull out your electronic language translator to figure out that sign, no matter what language you speak. But rest assured that one of these gadgets could come in very handy in your adventures abroad.

By William Harris

According to Dr. Dre, "people aren't hearing all the music" when they listen to it on the average earbuds and speakers. What kind of sound do Dre's Beats Audio products deliver?

By Patrick J. Kiger

Apple's small, wireless router is meant to let you create a wireless Internet access point almost anywhere. What are the capabilities of the Airport Express, and what else will you need to surf sans wires?

By Nathan Chandler

A wristwatch is an essential part of your wardrobe, but have you ever stopped to wonder why? As it turns out, the timepiece you've strapped to your wrist has a very long and storied history.

By Linda C. Brinson

Finding a gift for the dad who has everything can seem challenging. But with new technology constantly on the march, there are always possibilities for gadget-loving papas. Here are our very best tech gift ideas for Dad.

By Jonathan Strickland

Astrolabes are exquisitely crafted instruments that have hundreds of uses. Isn't it time you learned how to use this handy decoder of the sky?

By William Harris

Temperature-sensitive inks once rocked the '70s in the form of mood rings. These days, they're turning products like beer cans, wallpaper and footballs into color-changing chameleons.

By Nathan Chandler